President John Atta Mills has assured players and officials of the national soccer team of the country’s full support and belief in their ability to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The first World Cup to take place in Africa kicks off in South Africa next month with the Black Stars taking on coach Milovan Rajevac’s native Serbia in their opening group D game on June 13. President Mills has promised to attend that game in person to lend first hand support to the team he believes will make history at the competition. “It’s both an honour and a privilege to host the Black Stars whom I’m sure will lift proudly the World Cup at the end of the tournament.

“We will win the World Cup because God is on our side and I’m sure we’ve made the necessary preparations. I have no doubt that they will make all of us proud in South Africa,” the President said at last Saturday’s send-off Presidential Lunch with the national team at the Castle, Osu.

Sports Minister Akua Sena Dansua, GFA officials led by capo Kwesi Nyatakyi as well as stand-in captain John Paintsil who even presented his autographed Fulham jersey to the President, all thanked Mr. Atta Mills for showing how fatherly he is by inviting the team for lunch.

The Stars were billed to have departed Accra last night to their France training camp where they will engage some local sides in training matches before taking on Holland on June 1. A last pre-World Cup game against Latvia in London on June 5 follows before the team flies down to South Africa on June 7 for the tournament.

President Mills advised the team to focus on playing football and avoid provocations which could lead them into trouble during games.

“Play to the whistle and according to the rules and regulations of the game. Don’t forget you are standing in for the entire nation which are expecting nothing but the best,” the President cautioned.